I converted my licence in 2000, after 18months. I needed no eye test or anything, and indeed they batted no eyelids either.

Easy peasy Jif.

dave

personally I'd not pay more than 10 francs for a test. I am a tight-wad though

In Oerlikon, I can't recommend anyone but in town I would go to Vis-u-Lens (who do have an office in Oerlikon too).

And as I've mentioned, if you wear glasses, try your optician first...

Last trip to opticians was in Glasgow.
Somewhat more than 20 francs to pop in...

Sorry for the late answer (I am quite busy since a few months now):

The book is the following. AFAIK there is no other English book (there was a different one from Vogel Fachbuch Verlag, but I think it's not available anymore). But I think the translation is quite OK.

== BOOKS ==
Driving Today
ISBN 5168094805
Author: Trachsler, Alfred
Publisher: Autofahren heute, Bern
(You can order it in any book store or get it e.g. in Orell Füssli, Bahnhofstrasse)

As for your left/right lane question: Sorry I don't understand the question. Maybe it's just too late for me... ;-)

Just an update on the info re converting your driving licence

We've finally got it sorted but one thing that we did have to do which wasn't mentioned and thought maybe i would highlight it was that we had to go and get the form officially stamped at the Kreisburo (local town hall) which cost 20CHF per form - they however checked the form for me to see if I had filled it in correct and they sent it off for me so very helpful.

Nicky

Barish, how was it ? I'm taking it Dec. 19th, and my wife either the day before or the day after. I'm originally from Argentina (we both are) and I've heard some horrible stories about this bloody Prüfung (such as "they're too picky", "you have to turn your body 90 degrees to check for oncoming bicycles in roundabouts or you're rejected", etc, etc, etc). Is it all that bad ?

Our German is also horrible, but since we both speak French we hope our inspector will do too (low chances though, in Kanton Sankt Gallen).

Hi Caleb!!

To tell you the truth, I honestly was scared to death just before I got this kontolfahrt. People told me a lot of horrible stories just like the ones you have heard so far however mine was incredibly easier than I thought.

Maybe it was just my lucky day but my instructor was a quite young and cool guy who studied in the US. He could speak english very well and we spoke in english all the way, talked about life , extreme sports etc. I got stuck in a couple of red lights for 20 minutes and I just drove along a couple of 50kmh roads and thats it!! But I should mention to you that I had the test on Tuesday morning at 8:00am and thats when the traffic jam hits the peak. So after getting stuck in traffic for 20 minutes, we had to go back to Strassenverhersamt and he just congratulated me!! We never even entered 30kmh roads, never went up on the highway etc. So I guess I was pretty lucky that day.

But I took the chance to ask him about this kontrolfahrt while I was on the road. He told me that they fist really look at where the applicant is coming from. He told me they have the worst problems with latin american applicants and therefore the kontrolfahrt might be a bit more strict for you. I asked him why and he said that people could pay up for a drivers licence in latin america without taking a course or test.. not sure how true is this?? ..

the second thing is, if you have had your licence for over 5 years than the test becomes easier. 3rd point is, if you take the test with your personal car with swiss licence plate, it somehow becomes much easier. And lastly.. if your appointment is in early morning or in the evening (rush hours!!!), then you will probably get stuck in the traffic and you will have to return since the instructor has to complete the test in 45 minutes and he has to make a decision within that time!!

As long as you give way to the ones coming from your right, watch out for tram and bus, try to be as cautios as possible when changing lanes (look over your shoulder a couple of 10s of times, it is important that you look both ways on intersections a few times even though it looks silly, try to look like you are always in alarm!!! ), keep your both hands on the wheel at all times, dont over speed, you should be all right with the test.

Hi, I have a Canadian drivers licence (I drive automatic here), but I can drive a stick shift from living in the U.K.

Is it easy to get it change or do they make you do another test?

Can I drive a stick shift, if in Canada I drive automatic? (I dont think it says on my licence that I drive automatic only)

If anyone knows that would be great.Thanks.Sam.

I was just about to ask this exact question...
well, kinda.

I have a valid cdn license, and haven't thought about getting a swiss one until recently. wasn't sure how to go about this.

Wer ist von der Kontrollfahrt befreit? (doesn't have to do the quick test)

Befreit sind Inhaber/innen von Führerausweisen aus einem EU-/EFTA-Staat: Belgien, Bulgarien, Dänemark, Deutschland, Estland, Finnland, Frankreich, Griechenland, Grossbritannien, Irland, Island, Italien, Lettland, Liechtenstein, Litauen, Luxemburg, Malta, Niederlande, Norwegen, Österreich, Polen, Portugal, Rumänien, Schweden, Slowakei, Slowenien, Spanien, Tschechische Republik, Ungarn, Zypern sowie Andorra, Australien, Israel, Japan, Kanada, Korea (Republik), Kroatien, Marokko, Monaco, Neuseeland, San Marino, Singapur, Tunesien, USA.

so there you have it.

The license you get in Switzerland should allow you to drive both manual and automatic cars, regardless of whether you drove a manual in Canada or not. As you already pointed out, Canadian licenses don't distinguish between those who did their driving test on a standard or automatic. Fortunately, given that Canadian licenses also don't explicitly state it if a driver can't drive a standard, the Swiss driving authorities seem quite happy to exhange a full Canadian license for a full Swiss license, no questions asked.

I did this with an Ontario license, and know of people who have done the same using licenses from Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. So you're in luck...

Thanks very much for your reply, I am glad I will have no trouble getting a swop for my licence.

Sam.

It says on the blue form to include a first-air cert (Nothilfeausweis)

I couldn't find any info on this - does anyone know if this is obligatory?


Thanks,
~ Nanda.

From what I understand that is only necessary for 'new' drivers, and not if you are doing a driver licence conversion. I did not need one even though I had to do the Kontrollfahrt. Just note, that this was the case in Zurich, so I am not sure if this will be the case in all cantons.

Hey Litespeed,
Are you sure I can apply for a Swiss license within 24 months being in Switzerland.
I've been in Swiss since September 2005. I did not apply for a Swiss License within my first year. Since I've been here for more than 12 months now can I still apply for the License without going through the driving & paper tests ?

Would appreciate a response on this.

Looked through the other thread but can't find an answer to this one ...

As I understand it, I have to get my UK licence "converted" to Swiss before 12 months are up

Does this mean my UK licence gets in some way nullified?

I will return to UK at some point & insurance companies always ask how long you've held a full UK licence, in fact I still will maintain UK insured car in UK, concerned that a UK licence "converted" to Swiss will record some sort of "break" in UK licence continuity ...

Any ideas?

Thanks
Andrew

i was issued with a new swiss licence and allowed to keep my uk licence ( i carry both, still ), it's not nullified, no. . .

as you are still "holding" a uk licence there shouldnt be a break.

Hmmm, I was pretty sure when my licence was converted that they sent my UK one back to the DVLA in Swansea. I certainly haven't seen it in ages

Mine wasn't "converted"

I showed them my UK drivers licence, they then issued me a swiss licence.

When I converted to a Swiss license they allowed me to keep my old one. However, to ensure I'd never so much as think of using my Canadian license in Switzerland again, they had a very high-tech solution: they stuck a yellow sticker on my license that announced it was not valid in Switzerland (said sticker peels off very easily) and as an extra precaution, put an official stamp on the back of my card using what seems was a water-based ink... it had rubbed off the card by the time I got home from the licensing bureau.